C.I.S.S., Christmas Is Simple Stupid

I went to church tonight. Normally it is a high energy, rock 'n roll affair with tons of college students in a high school auditorium. Tonight, with the students gone it was a simple affair held in a small church.

It seemed to keep with the theme that God was saying , "Keep It Simple, Stupid!" The smell of the wooden pews and the wooden beams of the building reminded me that it started in a manger with animals and hay. No Black Friday, no Christmas lights.

A couple that must have been scared out of their gourds about what they were doing. But proceeding any way because they knew it was what God wanted. That simple desire to follow God's will would be so helpful to so many of us. Just get the "What if's" and the "Why me's" out of the way and just do it.

Then a little baby was born and the world changed forever. That's about as simple as it gets. Dean Inserra, our pastor, last week talked about how a little baby will just wrap his or her hand around your finger. It's just a response, maybe a way a baby connects. But Mary and Joseph probably tested that reflex. And Jesus wrapped his tiny soft hand around their finger. What a simple way to show he was connecting to humans.

Its all so simple.

Of Santa Claus and Stranger Danger.

"Stay away from strangers!"
"Don't take candy from anyone you don't know."
"Yell, if you see anything unusual."

And then comes Christmas.

"Look, honey, see the big fat old guy with the long scraggly beard and hair? The one whose wearing red and white fur. Look, he's offering you a candy cane! Why don't you go sit on his lap?"

Herding Carolling Cats

Last night we took a group of people ranging from age 2 to 56 carolling. Let me just say, this was much like the old saying of like "herding cats." One genius mother gave out glow sticks so the children could be better seen by cars. These soon became batons, both the kind you throw and twirl and the air and the kind police beat the living daylights out of when you've been naughty and they don't think coal in the stocking is enough punishment.

To follow the cats analogy I think our singing was much like cats being given a bath. Surprisingly, many people opened their door. More surprisingly some people listened to our whole song. Most surprisingly, some people smiled and said, "Thank you," when we were done.

The lessons that I would like to pass on is this. One verse and one chorus of any Christmas carol is puhlentyyyyyy! No need droning on and on. Secondly, can somebody please invent a dignified cat leash for a cat that stands about 4 feet tall and walks on two legs. We'll be glad to test out about 15 of them for you next year!

Ten Ways To Really Scrooge Up Your Christmas!

Ten Ways to Really Scrooge Up Your Christmas!

1. Save your shopping to the last minute. The Jiffy Mart is usually open all night Christmas Eve and you can always buy a Nascar cap or lighter for your wife.
   


2. Plug all your Christmas lights into one socket. The overload will create a great fireworks display and give you a new festive holiday hairdo.
   


3. Make sure you give your children lots of holiday cookies and candy. They need extra sugar to be this persistent and annoying about getting stuff and how Santa does his job.
   


4. Insist that you attend every holiday party and event that is around. No matter how exhausted you are or how much your feet hurt, go!
   


5. Be sure that you don't set limits on spending. Hey! You've got charge cards. You've got checks left! Hey! There's an ATM! That must mean you can afford it. Show your kids that its all about the stuff!
   


6. If you've never chopped down a christmas tree go to your neighborhood tree lot and tell them you want to get the feel of cutting your own tree down. Carry your own chain saw onto the lot and for safety be sure and wear an old hockey goalie mask for safety. Watch the children run around and squeal in unbridled joy.
   


7. Use the fruitcake your friend sent you as a doorstop. Invite your friend over and she will be so impressed that you are using her gift so proudly.
   


8. Invite all the associates and relatives you do not like to one party. That way you can get all the unpleasantries over in one evening. If you add alcohol you could even get law officers to validate how hard these people are to get along with.
   


9. Send out one of those yearly family update newsletters. Enclose your family pictures (Everybody has blank space on their refrigerator they need to fill). Detail every day of your kid's school life. You have so many to send just address them to "Resident".
   


10. Ask for receipts with your presents. I mean, really we're all going to run into each other at Wal-Mart the day after Christmas exchanging everything anyway. So just ask for the receipts in advances and make things really easy for us.
    

*For ideas on how to really enjoy the holidays check out the suggestions below.

How to Have Some Really Happy Holidays!

Know what is important to you. Write it down. What do you want? Lights? Music? Family? Charity? Religion? There are so many choices and opportunities you need to decide for yourself what you want.

Schedule. Let it be known what you want and when you want to do it. The time will get away from you and you will be saying, "I wish I would have."

Budget. Tell your kids that Santa can only bring them one big toy to each kid. Don't get into competitive spending with relatives or friends. Don't equate your own self-esteem with the amount of money you spend on gifts.

Slow down. Your internal organs do not know they are supposed to exist on less sleep, more sugar, and hours on your feet shopping.

Write a personal note or make a personal gift for someone who adds a lot to your life.

Visit a nursing home. Bring some holiday cheer to people who have really missed out. These people may not have the opportunity to share in the hustle bustle, lights and sounds of the holidays so take some of it to them.

Take special time with meaningful people. Have an annual holiday lunch with your best Friend. Spend an evening by the tree with your spouse complete with holiday music.
Charity. Shop for a needy child. Have your office adopt a needy family.

Teach your children charity. Let them pick out presents for children their age. Take them to serve a meal at the homeless shelter.

Sing. Sing loud. Sing Jingle Bells. Make up verses. Make up new songs with your kids. Listen with your kids to Jonas Brother's or Christina Aguilera's Christmas CD. Go to the church Christmas musical.

Bake, craft, draw, create. Making things makes things personal for both the giver and receiver. It allows you to put your own spin on what Christmas means to you.